Live SZN Kickoff: Lincoln Supreme 2025s Guards Stand Out
Surprising the 15U field at Lincoln was a band of 8th graders who played up a year. Lincoln Supreme 2025 didn’t just play. They went undefeated, with no opponent coming within a dozen or so points of winning. Word around…
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Continue ReadingSurprising the 15U field at Lincoln was a band of 8th graders who played up a year. Lincoln Supreme 2025 didn’t just play. They went undefeated, with no opponent coming within a dozen or so points of winning.
Word around the Lincoln Sports Foundation complex was that the 8th graders match up very well with Lincoln Supreme’s two high-quality 2024 clubs.
“I love this group,” said Lincoln Supreme 2025 coach Rick Frager. “They don’t all go to school together, but they get along really well, and there’s just not a lot of friction among them. They are all competitive, and they battle each other and beat the crap out of each other in practice. But that’s as far as it goes.
“I think everybody is kind of grateful to be on this team, and there’s no jealousy.”
Playing up can be a challenge to a young kid’s psyche, and isn’t advisable for everyone. Frager said this group has handled it well so far.
“These guys have been really successful at their own age group,” Frager said. “But now, playing against bigger kids, stronger kids that jump higher, that’s the big thing for us. That’s the learning experience. You could get in a situation where you get beat down and start to lose a little confidence. But you’ve got to see what they’re made of.”
As a group, the 8th graders are big and strong for their age. But taking on high schoolers forces them to rely on savvy and skill rather than physical gifts.
“The physicality of it is the toughest part,” Frager said. “We’ve got to get stronger. Every time you touch the ball, somebody’s putting their hands on you, they’re pushing you. We’ve got to get used to that.”
Here’s a look at the guards on the Lincoln Supreme 2025 club (in alphabetical order):
Barret Boesiger, 5-foot-10, guard:
A long, athletic guard/wing, Boesiger knocked down at least one 3-pointer in seemingly every game. He demonstrated nice form from distance and soft touch at the line. He puts up a great fight in the lane against bigger, older guys. He is a hustler who dives on the floor for loose balls and isn’t afraid to mix it up in traffic.
BJ Bradford, 5-foot-5, guard:
Bradford is a really fun player to watch. You can just see the wheels turning in his head, as he’s out-thinking his opponents all the time. He is crafty with the ball, not just making safe plays, but also daring and entertaining plays. He has great vision and anticipation, and he makes playing hard look easy. He’s still very small, so it will be quite interesting to see how he develops.
Jackson Carpenter, 5-foot-10, guard:
Unfortunately Carpenter wasn’t available for the Lincoln tournament. His coach praised his toughness and athleticism. He said Carpenter is particularly important at the defensive end, where he excels on-ball. Hopefully we’ll see Carpenter in action soon.
Lazarek Houston, 5-foot-5, guard:
Howard is a quintessential point guard. He’s got great ability with the ball, pushing the tempo while always staying under control. He’s unflappable against kids older and much bigger. Perhaps one of the most entertaining moments of the weekend was when Houston pushed the ball toward the basket with just two much larger defenders between him and the goal. “Pull it out,” his coach yelled. “You ain’t got nothing.” But the fearless Houston split the two defenders with a hesitation and spin move, and flipped a one-handed, acrobatic runner in from about five feet out.
Finn McGovern, 5-foot-10, guard:
Tough and gritty, McGovern is a really great piece as a complementary guard. He can handle the ball under pressure, take it into the lane, shoot and dish. But where he really excels is at the defensive end, where he gets his hands on the ball all the time, and expects to retrieve every 50/50 ball.